Do You Have a Map for 2011?

Have you ever tried to drive somewhere and realized that you didn’t know where you were going?

And that you didn’t even have a map to get you there?

This recently happened to me.

I was driving and my GPS had broken.  En-route I realized that I really didn’t know where I was going.  It was not a good feeling or experience.

The same is true for our personal lives and goals.  If we don’t know where we are heading relative to our goals, our daily efforts can be very non-productive.

What about your personal map or internal GPS?  Is it ready for 2011?

Do you have a map of your goals for the year?

Do You Know Where You Are Going?

What do you want to accomplish in 2011?

That is a big question, and the first step is to plot a course.

It is hard to get somewhere if you don’t know where you are going.

You have to make a choice and map your goals.  (And if you don’t choose… you will be driftwood in life.)

You need a personal map to help you…

• Know where you are and which direction you need to go
• Make adjustments and course corrections to your path
• Be aware of the landscape, and what you will pass along the way
• Measure your progress relative to your goals

What Is On Your Map?

So, what should be on your map?

We are are familiar with the standard things that need to be on a map: features, scale, direction, etc.

These same things need to be translated to your personal map:

• Goals and Scope – Your map needs to show you the landscape.  (After all, that is what a map is for!)  Your map should explicitly state your goals.  What are they?
  • Be specific.  Be realistic.  However, you also want to set the bar high enough.
  • Ensure that you do not overload yourself with too many goals at once.  If needed, limit yourself to only a few goals at a time.  Too often people will set a dozen goals and then accomplish none of them.  Better to win at 1-2 important ones.
• Deadlines – When will you get there?  You need to have deadlines to reach your goals.  Without a deadline, your goal has no sense of urgency and no time limit.  Remember: Tasks and goals expand to the longest allowable time frame.
• Measurements – How will you know when you have arrived at your destination?  You need to be able to measure accomplishment of your goals.  This means having a finish line for each goal.  Again, be specific what it means to reach each of your goals.
• Milestones – The milestones on your map are the mile markers along your path to success.  This is where you need to zoom in.  After all, looking at an entire year at once can be too much.  Look at smaller time frames:
  • 6 Months – Where will you be at the halfway point?  Will you be halfway to your goals?
  • 3 Months – Three months is one of the best periods of goal tracking.  It is short enough to be manageable, yet long enough to make dramatic progress.
  • 1 Month – You really cannot get too granular in plotting your course to success.  However, at a minimum, you should have monthly status checks for course corrections along the way.

Plot Your Course

Put your map together today.

The format is not important.  You can use a spreadsheet, text document, whatever is easiest.

I prefer to make a mindmap because I like the visual nature of seeing everything at once.

Once you have your map drawn, you can then start plotting your course to success in 2011!

Are you ready for the coming year?  What’s on your map for 2011?